FIRE 20/20 and FireRescue1.com Launch Partnering For Prevention™, a Free Online Training Program to Help Fire and Emergency Services Engage Multicultural Communities

FIRE 20/20, a non-profit dedicated to helping fire and emergency services work more effectively with their multicultural communities, and FireRescue1.com, a leading online resource for the firefighting community, have announced the launch of a free online training program that teaches fire and emergency services personnel - both career and volunteer - how to more effectively engage their multicultural communities in prevention efforts.

A collaborative effort between FIRE 20/20 and FireRescue1, Partnering For Prevention features strategies and tactics from fire service experts across the U.S., as well as interviews with leaders from 12 multicultural and high-risk communities, including Hispanic, African American, Somali, Vietnamese, Chinese, Filipino, Ukrainian, Sikh, senior, deaf, hard of hearing and homeless communities.

Partnering For Prevention is based on findings from two national research studies completed by FIRE 20/20. The three-hour training program – hosted within FireRescue1’s proprietary learning management system – is available in eight 15-20 minute segments, which can be taken in one session or broken into several shorter sessions to fit the busy schedules of fire and emergency services providers.

Training content includes:

Review of national issues affecting fire prevention and risk reduction in multicultural communities

Community partnership mapping

Leading a fire prevention culture

Increasing cultural understanding

Marketing prevention to the community

Conducting leader-to-leader meetings with multicultural communities

Step-by-step case studies

Completing the fire prevention report card

“Our country’s growing multicultural communities present new and unique fire prevention and community risk-reduction challenges," said Shane Ray, South Carolina State Fire Marshal. “FIRE 20/20’s Partnering For Prevention training is a good resource for fire and emergency responders who are looking to improve their fire prevention initiatives.”

First responders who complete the training will receive a continuing education certificate from FireRescue1 and FIRE 20/20.

“We are proud to be working with FIRE 20/20 to address such an important issue in the fire service,” said Alex Ford, CEO of FireRescue1. “The Partnering For Prevention program is a great way to apply our learning management and online marketing capabilities to help give back to the community.”

The training was developed in partnership with Renton Fire & Emergency Services Department, the National Association of State Fire Marshals (NASFM), the International Association of Fire Marshals (IFMA), and Vision 20/20, and was funded through a FEMA Fire Prevention Grant with additional support from LION and FireRescue1.

“FIRE 20/20 has done some amazing work in linking the issues of a growing multicultural society in the U.S. with effective prevention programs,” said Jim Crawford, Director of Vision 20/20. “The Partnering For Prevention online training will increase the understanding of these issues at the national, regional, state and local levels. There is information in here for policy makers and the fire and life safety community at all levels.”

About FIRE 20/20FIRE 20/20 is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2005. FIRE 20/20 helps fire and emergency services work more effectively with their multicultural communities to increase the reach and effectiveness of fire prevention and community risk reduction, emergency response, emergency management and diversity recruitment and retention. Over the last nine years, FIRE 20/20 has trained more than 200 departments in the U.S. and Canada.

About FireRescue1 Academy
The FireRescue1 Academy offers 24/7 access to must-have training from a wide range of well-known fire service experts along with full tracking and reporting of course completions. The Academy provides access to more than 500 training videos across more than 40 topics such as Fire Suppression, Firefighter Safety and Survival, Command and Control, EMS, Hazardous Materials and more. The FireRescue1 Academy is brought to you by FireRescue1.com, one of the leading websites worldwide for Firefighting resources and information.

About FEMA Fire Prevention and Safety Grants
The Fire Prevention and Safety (FP&S) Grants are part of the Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) and support projects that enhance the safety of the public and firefighters from fire and related hazards. The primary goal is to reduce injury and prevent death among high-risk populations. In 2005, Congress reauthorized funding for FP&S and expanded the eligible uses of funds to include Firefighter Safety Research and Development.

For more information about Partnering For Prevention Online Training and other FIRE 20/20 products and services, please contact: